Improvement in machines for washing photographs



I. L. CAYLOR.

Machine for washing Photographs.

Patented Aug. 17,1875.

UNITED STATES VPATENT @Trice JACOB L. CAYLOR, OF BONHAM, TEXAS.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES EOR WASHING PHOTOGRAPHS.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 166,847, dated August 17,1875; application filed July 26, 1875.

To all whom fit may concern:

Be it known that I, JACOB L. CAYLOR, of

A Bonham, in the county of Fannin and State of Texas, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Photographic lVasher, of whichthe followin gis a specification:

This invention relates to a new and improved apparatus for washingphotographic prints after fixing, for the purpose of removing the doublehyposulphite of soda and silver formed in the body of the paper duringthe process of fixing. This salt, if left in the minutest traces in theprint, invariably causes the destruct-ion of the same in the process oftime. As the said salt is comparatively insoluble in water, greatdifficulty has hitherto been experienced in its removal.

Heretofore it has been customary to run the prints through. severalsuccessive baths of fresh water in batches, or to soak the same in alarge quantity of water over night, or submit a quantity of them to theaction of running water a suitable length of time. These means haveproved defective for the purpose, owing to the fact that the printsbecome inatted or massed together, and in this condition are imperfectlyreached by the water, resulting 4in the presence ofthe salt in a largeportion of every batch of pictures, even after the most prolongedwashing.v

My invention is designed to obviate these defects by providing anapparatus in which the prints may be successively and continuouslycarried automatically under a stream of falling water, in such mannerthat the entire surface of each will be thoroughly exposed to theactionof the same, in order that all may be thoroughly washed.

My invention consists of an upright framework, carrying an overshotwater wheel, above which is supported a distributing water-trough, whichreceives its water from a tank or water-supply above, directing the sameinto the buckets of the wheel in such manner as to put it in motion, theprints being arranged in the spaces between the said buckets upon stripsof netting or other fabric secured to the periphery of the wheel.

rlhe drawing represents a perspective view of my improved apparatus, inwhich the let- 'ter A indicates the upright frame-work, and

B the overshot-wheel, mounted on a shaft, C, journaled at its ends inbearings D on opposite sides of the frame A. At any convenient heightabove said wheel is a trough, E, provided with distributing-tubes Fextending downward, and terminating over the Wheels to one side of thesame, so as to direct the water into the buckets as they are Ysuccessively brought under the saine.

The buckets are indicated by the letter G, and may be of any approvedconstruction, and to the periphery of the wheel in the spaces betweenthe same are secured strips H, of cotton, rubber, netting, or othersuitable woven fabrics, which form a support for the prints.

Upon the top of the frame-work A is secured a tank or water-supply,I,from which extends a tube, K, provided with a stop-cock, L, extendingover the mouth of the trough G, so as to discharge directly into thesaine.

The operation of my apparatus will be readily understood from theforegoing description. The prints, after removal from the fixing-bath,are spread upon the netting between the buckets of the wheel, to whichthey adhere with sufiicient tenacity to prevent being washed off by thefalling Water as they pass under the distributing-spouts F. The water issupplied to the Wheel in proper quantities, being regulated by the cockL, causing the wheel to revolve at any desired velocity, which bringseach print successively 'under the action of the falling stream,thoroughly exposing its surface to successive washings until the doublehyposulphite of soda and silver is entirely removed. The network forinsa foraminous support for the prints that allows the water to pass freelythrough the same, and thoroughly wash the under as well as the uppersurfaces, insuring a most perfect washing of said prints.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

The apparatus for washing photographic prints, consisting, essentially,of the bucketwheel (l, having netted or woven fabric attached to itsperiphery for the reception of the pietulzesthe trough E, #providedvwith dis- In testimony that 1- I claim .the foregoingwI tributi11gspoutsF, `and the watersupply have hereunto set; my hand in'gthe-fpyresencetank I above the same, provided with a tube of' the subscribing;rWitnesses.

and stop-cock for" directing the Water in the JACOB L. CAYLOR. spout,all combined and arranged to oper- Witnesses:

ate substantially as and for the purpose de l F. I. WELLS,

scribed. Y 1;?? A.V DUNCANA

